Exercising device



March 28, 1961 w. B. MORRIS EXERCISING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 50, 1959 CIIIIZZIZIIII: I 1 12:11:11:

17 13 15 i Was/6g 5 Mom/s INVIENTOR. BY W March 28, 1961 w, B. RRIS EXERCISING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1959 INVENTOR.

Wes/6g 5 Mom's r 2,977,120 Patented Mar. 2 1

United States PatentO The present invention relates to exercising devices, and more particularly to exercising devices of the type in which vertically movable weights are raised and lowered by cord and pulley systems. The invention has utility for recreational and physical training purposes, as in gymnasia, and also for physical therapy purposes, as in hospitals. cables, and other elongated flexible members adapted to pass in tension about pulleys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide exercising devices of the type described, in which the cords may be disposed at any desired elevation which is convenient for use, without altering the elevation or path of' travel of the weights.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of exercising devices which are readily useable in any of a plurality of adjusted positions.

The term cord as used herein includes ropes A further object of the present invention is the provision of such exercising devices that are bodily horizontally adjustable and-are adapted to be fixed in any desired position of horizontal adjustment.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of exercising deviceshaving means for preventing the cords and their attachments from becoming en.- tangled in the pulley-system Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide exercising devices of the type described, which will be relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and install, simple to operate, adjust,- maintain and repair, and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyi-ng drawings, in which; 1

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an exercising device according to thepresent invention; a

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of an exercising a device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; 1

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pulley mounting according to the present invention and showing a portion of the structure seen in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragment of Figure 1 showing another pulley mounting of the present-invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the structure of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the weight assembly and weight support of the present invention. Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown an exercising device indicated generally at 1 comprising a frame 3 which is bodily horizontally movable along and is supported by vertically spaced horizontal parallel tracks 5 secured to a vertical wall 7. By means of this mountingframe 3 is spaced for movement above floor 9. Tracks 5 are in the form'of downwardly opening channel members having downwardly. depending flanges and, inwardly extending lips on the lower edges of the flanges. Roller brackets 11 are secured to frame 3 adjacent the top and bottom thereof and extend into the-channels'of tracks 5 and carry horizontal and vertical rollers which have rolling contact with the flanges and lips, respectively, of tracks 5 so as to support and guide frame'3 onltracks 5 for horizontal rolling movement on the rollers of brackets 11.

Means are provided for selectively locking frame 3 in any of a plurality of positions of horizontal adjustment lengthwise of tracks 5, comprising a manually operated brake 13, Brake 13 comprises a lever 15 mounted for pivotal movement beneath frame 3 and adapted to be swungby adjustment screw 17 which moves the outer or forward end-of lever 15 selectively up or down upon manipulation of a wingnut 19. At the other or inner end of love/r15, an upwardly extending friction brake pin 21 is provided which selectively engages or disengages the-underside of the lower track 5 upon manipulation of the brake thereby selectively to secure frame 3 in an adjusted position against horizontal movement or to release the frame from that position for further horizontal movement.

Frame 3 includes upper and lower horizontal T- shaped members 23 and 25 at the top and bottom of the frame. The cross pieces of the Ts are parallel to eachotherand-to thewall-and carry at their ends the roller brackets'll, so that brackets 11 are disposed in effect in a rectangular pattern in-a plane parallel to the wall so as most securely to support frame 3. The legs of the Ts are parallel to each other and extend outwardly perpendicular to the wall, the leg of member 23 overhanging the devicea considerable distance as shown in Figure 2. Frame 3 also includes verticalfguide means comprising firstor rear guide means 27 and second or forward guide means 29. Each of guide means 27 and 29 comprises a pair of parallel vertical rods 31 disposed in a plane parallel to the wall. Mounted for vertical sliding movement on first guide means 27 is a weight support 33 which includes a platform having at each end a collar encircling a rod 31. A variable number of weights 35 rests on the platform of weight support 33 about a post 37 that extends upward from the platform and terminates at its upper end in a clevis within which is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis a pulley 39. The weights 35 may be added to or subtracted from the assembly to obtain the desired total weight in a manner well known in this art.

The exercising device of the present invention is op erated by pulling and releasing a single cord 41 which is reeved under pulley 39 and. extends forwardly therefrom in an ascending vertical run 43. A fixed pulley 45 is secured to frame 3 adjacent the upper end of first guide means 27 and a fixed pulley 47 is secured to second guide means 29 adjacent the upper end thereof. Cord. 41 passes .over pulleys 45 and 47 and continues ina descending vertical run 49 to and under an idler pulley 51 mounted on a pulley support 53 which is vertically slidable' on second guide means 29 and is adapted to be fixed in any of a plurality of positions of vertical adjustment along second guide means 29 by means of a setscrew 55 which can be manipulated to bear against a rod 31 in locking engagement. From pulley 51, cord 41 extends in an ascending vertical run 57 to and over a pulley 59.v

The structure associated with pulley 59 comprises ,a pulley support 61 shown best in Figures 4 and 5. Pulley support 61 includes a pair of collars encircling the associated rods 31, a setscrew 63 serving to fix support 61 in any of a plurality of positions of vertical adjustment along secondguide means 29 and to permit vertical sliding adjustment of support 61 along guide means 29 when tightened or released, respectively. A pulley bracket 65 is mounted on support 61 for rotation about a vertical axis. Bracket 65 is in the general form of a clevis having a pintle rotatably mounted in support 61, the legs of the clevis being comprised of a pair of spaced parallel legs 67 which extend from the pintle diagonally V downwardly in a portion 69 on and between the lower ends of which pulley 59 is rotatably mounted. From diagonally downwardly extending portion 69, bracket 65 has a horizontally outwardly extending portion 71 which terminates in a vertically upwardly extending portion 73. Thence, bracket 65 has a diagonally upwardly and inwardly extending end portion 75 which terminates in a closed end 77, so that legs 67 are joined to each other at both ends. Cord 41 extends from pulley 59 between legs 67 in the region of those legs between the mounting of pulley 59 and closed end 77 and terminates endwise outwardly in an enlargement comprising an eye 79 adapted to receive the usual handle (not shown). Enlargement eye 79 is adapted to contact the outer surfaces of legs 67 particularly in the region of portions 73 thereof to limit downward movement of weight support 33 and to prevent cord 41 and its end attachments from becoming entangled in the pulleys.

In the otherv direction from pulley 39 associated with weights 35, cord 41 extends in an ascending vertical run 81 over a fixed pulley 83 secured to the underside of member 23 at the intersection of the cross piece and leg of member 23. Thence, cord 41 extends forwardly beneath the leg of member 23 in an outwardly extending horizontal run 85 to and over a pulley 87. Pulley 87 is mounted on a fixed pulley support 89 beneath the overhanging end of the leg of member 23 as best seen in Figures 6 and 7. Pulley support 89 provides a forwardly extending horizontal pintle on which is rotatably mounted a pulley bracket 91 in depending relationship, so that pulley bracket 91 is rotatable about a horizontal axisparallel to horizontal run 85 of cord 41 and perpendicular to the wall. Bracket 91 is in the general form of a clevis having spaced parallel legs 93 including a downwardly extending portion 95 on and between which pulley 87 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. From the lower ends of portion 95,, bracket 91 includes a horizontally outwardly extending portion 97 ending in a vertically, upwardly extending portion 99 which terminates in a closed end 101. Cord 41 extends between legs 93 between the mounting of pulley 87 thereon and closed end 101 and terminates endwise outwardly in an enlargement comprising an eye.103 adapted to receive the usual handle (not shown). The purpose of this enlargement is also to limit downward movement of weight support 33 and to prevent cord 41 and its attachments from becoming entangled in the pulley system.

To prevent sudden shocks to the pulley and cord assembly and to prevent weight support 33 from crashing down onto the frame, a dash pot or shock absorber 105 is provided on the upper surface of member 25 directly beneath the weights as best seen in Figure 8. Shock absorber 105 is provided with an upwardly extending plunger 107 which is continuously urged upwardly in the shock absorber casing by a coil compression spring (not shown).

In use, brake 13 is released and frame 3 is moved bodily horizontally along tracks until it is in its desired position in the room. For example, in a hospital ward, the device may be moved lengthwise along the ward until it is in registry with the bed of the patient who is to use the device. Brake 13 is then set and the device is fixed against inadvertent horizontal movement.

With weight support 33 resting on shock absorber 105, the desired number of weights 35 is placed on the platform of support 33, having regard for the factthat with r 4 the illustrated pulley system the force required to lift the weights will be only half the total weight plus friction. Next comes an adjustment which is made possible by a very important feature of the present invention, as follows:

Pulley support 61 is released by manipulation of setscrew 63 and is slid along second guide means 29 to the elevation which is desired for the associated end of cord 41 having regard for the elevation at which the user desires to operate the device and the desired direction of pull to be exerted upon the device. Pulley support 53, which is below pulley support 61 at all times, is then moved downwardly until idler pulley 51 firmly engages and presses down upon cord .41. The enlargements at both ends of the cord 41 engage firmly against their associated brackets 65 and 91 and all the other pulleys are stationary, so that movement of pulley 51 in this manner takes up all the slack throughout the length of cord 41 and assures that regardless of the selected elevation of pulley 59, cord 41 will be taut even though weight support 33 does not move from its rest position on shock absorber 105. Pulley support 53 is then fixed in this lowered adjusted position by manipulation of setscrew 55. -It will thus be seen that a novel feature of combination is provided comprising the vertical adjustability of both of pulleys 51 and 59 independently of each other so as to enable positioning of the associated end of cord 41 at any desired elevation without in any way changing the length or position of the path through which the weights move.

The end of cord 41 adjacent pulley 87 may also be used for overhead exercises or exercises which involve exerting a downward pull. The structure adjacent this end of cord 41 cooperates in a uniquely novel way with the structure adjacent the other end of cord 41 in that while pulley 87 is relatively fixed against rectilinear adjustment, pulley 59 is not, so that by adjustment of pulley 59 as described above, the two ends of cord 41 may be given any desired relationship relative to each other for the proper exercise of any two limbs of the user.

It will also be noted that the particular configuration and mounting of pulley brackets 65 and 91 enables use of cord 41 in any direction from the associated pulley supports 61 and 89, respectively, but at the same time the configuration of the legs of these brackets assures that no matter what the angle of the cord, the cord and its attachments cannot become entangled in the pulley system.

In view of the foregoing disclosure, it will be obvious that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. An exercising device comprising first vertical guide means, a support for a weight mounted for vertical movement on the first guide means, a cord supporting the weight support for vertical movement on the first guide means, second vertical guide means beside the first vertical guide means, a first pulley mounted for vertical movement on the second guide means, means for releasably securing the first pulley in any of a plurality of positions of vertical adjustment along the second guide means, a second pulley mounted for vertical movement on the second guide means below the first pulley, means for releasably securing the second pulley independently of the first pulley in any of a plurality of positions of vertical adjustment along the second guide means below the first pulley, and a third pulley mounted on the device adjacent the upper ends of the first and second guide means, the cord being reeved over the first pulley, under the second pulley and over the third pulley to the weight support.

2. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1, and a 6 fourth pulley movable in assembly with the weight support, and a fifth pulley mounted on the device adjacent the upper ends of the first and second guide means, the cord being reeved from the third pulley under the fourth pulley and over the fifth pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thornley Mar. 24, 1903 Medart Aug. 17, 1909 Ludwiek Nov. 9, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 2, 1934 France Mar. 11, 1957 

